Wednesday, December 1st is World AIDS Day. According to the World Health Organization, the UN agency dedicated to global health and safety, in 2020, there were over 37 million people living with AIDS throughout the world and 680,000 people died from HIV-related causes. However, about 73% of people living with HIV received lifelong antiretroviral therapy in 2020. This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is to “End inequalities: End AIDS” by reaching people who do not have access to needed HIV services.
Since World AIDS Day was first observed in 1988 it has sought to bring more attention to the HIV epidemic and encourage others to take steps to improve responses and work towards eventually ending this disease. Some will recognize this day by wearing a red HIV awareness ribbon. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention has produced a digital toolkit for World AIDS Day to help create messaging on HIV issues.
For those seeking to honor this day by donating to a charity addressing HIV related issues, BBB Wise Giving Alliance provides the following listing of charities that are BBB Accredited (i.e., that meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.)
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Maya Ajmera, President and CEO, Society for Science and the Public (a BBB Accredited Charity) an organization that works to expand scientific literacy, STEM education, and scientific research. The organization also publishes Science News magazine, which includes science-related journalism, editorial content and educational products.
Heart of Giving Podcast
In this week’s Heart of Giving Podcast, we interview Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday. We chat with Asha about her expectations for the day and how she sees the evolution of GivingTuesday from a movement to an institution. Asha provides a firsthand account of how the day became a global phenomenon.
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Nine years ago, GivingTuesday was started by the New York-based 92Y to foster a generosity movement on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (which falls on November 30th in 2021). The movement now operates as a separate organization, GivingTuesday, promoting the idea that everyone has something to give and encouraging people around the world to join forces.
Our recently released2021 Give.org Donor Trust Report found that young people and minorities express a greater desire to be approached by charities than the general public, with 50.1% of African Americans and Hispanics saying they would like charities to approach them more or would be willing to give more if approached (as compared to 33.1% of survey participants overall). GivingTuesday is a great opportunity for new, young, and diverse donors to engage with charities and causes.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance encourages donors to participate in GivingTuesday, and to take the time to ensure their generosity is well used. To assist in achieving this goal, we offer the following five tips:
Watch out for mistaken identity. As some charity names look similar, make sure the charity you are considering is the one you have in mind.
Avoid on-the-spot donation decisions from unfamiliar organizations. Typically, the holidays bring a higher frequency of donation requests. Don’t succumb to pressure to make an immediate giving decision. Responsible organizations will welcome your gift tomorrow as much as they do today.
Be wary of overly emotional appeals. If an appeal brings tears to your eyes, make sure it is also clear about what the charity intends to do to address the issues. Visit the charities website for details about their program services.
See if the charity is registered to solicit. Check with your state government’s charity registration agency, usually a division of either the Attorney General’s office or Secretary of State’s office. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency.Keep in mind that registration does not mean the government agency endorses, approves or recommends the charity.
Check BBB’s Give.org. Rely on standards-based evaluations. Charities that are found to meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability are helping to demonstrate their trustworthiness. Get free access to BBB charity reports at Give.org.
Video of the Week
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Michael Roberts, President and CEO, First Nations Development Institute (a BBB Accredited Charity ) which works to improve economic conditions for Native Americans through technical assistance and training, advocacy and policy, and direct financial grants.
Heart of Giving Podcast
In this week’s Heart of Giving Podcast, we interview music icon Roger Daltrey, founder and frontman of the English rock band, The Who. We talk about his inspiring music and his deep commitment to raising awareness about teen cancer in the U.S. through the organization that he helped establish, Teen Cancer America (a BBB Accredited Charity.)
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
This week BBB Wise Giving Alliance released the 2021 Give.org Donor Trust Report: Profiles in Charity Trust and Giving. The report marks the fourth year we tracked donor trust and giving attitudes through an annual online survey of more than 2,100 adults in the United States and more than 1,000 adults in Canada. This fourth survey took place in December 2020.
For charities and donors, 2020 was a historically rocky year. With ongoing uncertainties about the effects of the pandemic on the donating public, we were curious to learn about any significant changes in public trust for charities overall or specific charity types. Fortunately, the Donor Trust Survey shows that the portion of the U.S. population that highly trusts charities in general, as well as for most charity categories, was relatively unchanged. The two exceptions were civil rights and community action organizations and environmental organizations, each experiencing a 3-point increase in “high trust.”
These shifts were likely affected, at least in part, by broader social outlooks associated with the pandemic. For instance, 2020 saw increased attention to the link between environmental causes and human health, the environmental effects of the economic slowdown tied to the COVID-19, and news about extreme weather events. Similarly, since we started tracking trust for different charity categories in 2017, we observed that the portion of survey participants expressing high trust for civil rights and community action organization was decreasing each year. This trend seems to have reverted during 2020, likely due to the broader social justice tension that culminated with the racial awareness movement that year.
A quick snapshot of the most significant changes in trust by charity type (in 2020 and over the past 4 years) is here.
In Canada, environmental and civil rights organizations did not experience a similar shift in public trust. The only charity category in Canada experiencing a 3-point increase in “high trust” between December 2019 and December 2020 was animal welfare.
Video of the Week
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring an interview with Haroon Shaikh, President of SUIT North America (a BBB Accredited Charity) that seeks to provide medicines and equipment to non-profit hospitals and institutions dealing with kidney diseases, dialysis and end stage renal diseases. SIUT North America reports that its major focus is on helping SIUT Pakistan secure necessary funds for medicines, treatments and equipment. The organization reports that all SIUT patients are treated free of charge and without discrimination. In addition SIUT reports that it helps other organizations in the U.S. through voluntary services and donations.
Heart of Giving Podcast
IIn this week’s Heart of Giving Podcast, the guest is Marc Morial, the former Mayor of New Orleans and the current President of the National Urban League (a BBB Accredited Charity). Marc talks about his long and illustrious career as an American political and civil leader and explains what motivates him.
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
Arlington, VA (November 15, 2021) – According to new research from BBB’s Give.org, racial minorities express higher desire to be approached by charities than does the general public. While 33.1% of survey takers overall said they would like charities to approach them more or would be willing to give more if approached; 50.1% of African Americans and Hispanics said they would like charities to approach them more or would be willing to give more if approached.
The standards-based, charity-evaluation group today released the Give.org Donor Trust Report 2021: Profiles in Charity Trust and Giving. The report, a survey of more than 2,100 adults in the United States and more than 1,000 adults in Canada, identifies significant shifts in trust for specific charity types and includes individual donor profiles for 13 charity categories based on self-reported behavior. The report also suggests that donor participation rates continued to decrease during 2020, even as openness to solicitation among racial minorities grew in the past two years.
“The sector is facing a participation crisis where, despite growing overall giving, the portion of Americans contributing to charities is decreasing. Based on self-reported giving to different charity types, our results suggest that the trend continued during 2020,” said H. Art Taylor, president and CEO of BBB’s Give.org, “This is a worrisome trend as we strive to build a diverse and inclusive charitable sector.”
Report highlights include:
The portion of the population that highly trusts different charity types was relatively unchanged during 2020, with the exceptions of environmental organizations and civil rights and community action organizations, each experiencing a 3-point increase in “high trust.”
Out of 13 charity categories in the survey, 8 saw a drop in the portion of participants that report giving during 2020 as compared to 2019. Also, when considering alternative donation channels used during 2020, the portion of participants who report not contributing through any channels increased from 16.4% in December 2018, to 20.0% in December 2019, and to 24.9% in December 2020.
Racial minorities express higher desire to be approached by charities. For instance, among white participants, 25.1% said they would like charities to approach them more or would be willing to give more if approached; rather than saying they do not want to be approached or have been approached more than they should be. The portion of participants who would like charities to approach them more or would be willing to give more if approached is higher among African Americas (50.1%), Hispanics (50.1%) and Asian Americans (39.6%)
51.4% of African Americans and 40.4% of Hispanics prefer to support charities serving specific needs affecting their ethnic community, as compared to 33.6% overall.
BBB’s Give.org urges donors to give thoughtfully by taking the time to investigate charities before making a donation and to visit Give.org to verify if a charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) is a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, results reporting, finances, fundraising, appeal accuracy and other issues. National charity reports are produced by BBB’s Give.org and local charity reports are produced by local Better Business Bureaus – all reports are available at Give.org.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Elvia Castro (703-247-9322 or ecastro@give.org)
This week, some will honor Veterans Day by donating to charities that address a variety of issues and needs facing veterans, military service members and/or their families. (In Canada, November 11th is recognized as Remembrance Day) BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice, to help contributors make wise giving decisions:
Avoid Name Similarity Confusion. Some veterans charities include the same words in different order or slightly different form. So, be alert and make sure the organization you are considering is the one you want to support.
Find Out What They Do. Don’t assume what the veterans organization does based on their name alone. Look for a clear description of the organization’s programs in its appeals and on its website.
Be Cautious with Phone Appeals. If not managed properly, some telemarketing campaigns for veterans organizations can be an expensive way to raise funds with very little going to the organization. If called, do not hesitate to ask for written information or visit the group’s website to find out about its programs and finances before making a giving decision.
Watch Out for Excessive Pressure. Don’t be pressured to make an immediate on-the-spot donation to a veterans organization. Charities should welcome your gift whenever you want to send it.
Ask How Donated Items Will Benefit the Group. Find out how the charity benefits from the collection and resale of used clothing and other in-kind gifts. Sometimes the charity receives only a small portion of the resale price of the item or may have a contractual arrangement to get a flat fee for every household pick-up, no matter what the contents.
Visit Give.org: In addition to charity reports on BBB’s Give.org, check with your state government’s charity registration agency, usually a division of either the Attorney General’s office or Secretary of State’s office. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency.
This list shows veterans and military service charities that meet all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., BBB Accredited Charities.) Click on the report links to access reports on each group.
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video interview featuring Amy Palmer, President & CEO, Soldier’s Angels (a BBB Accredited Charity) which provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and the growing veteran population. For example, at approximately 30 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities, SA conducts patient visits and provides luncheons/dinners, hygiene kits, box lunches, food distributions, stand down support and computers and other technology devices.
Heart of Giving Podcast
This week, on the Heart of Giving Podcast we celebrate Veterans Day by interviewing the CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, Michael Linnington, who brings 35 years of military experience to this organization that helps veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound while serving in the military.
ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) is a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, results reporting, finances, fundraising, appeal accuracy and other issues. National charity reports are produced by BBB’s Give.org and local charity reports are produced by local Better Business Bureaus – all reports are available at Give.org.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Bennett Weiner at bweiner@give.org
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
BBB Wise Giving Alliance and the BBB Foundation of Metro New York are collaborating to present a free livestreamed program, Cybersecurity Planning for Nonprofit Leaders, on October 20 from 9:30-11:30am EDT. To see details and register to view the livestream, click here to visit the program’s web page.
Increasingly, nonprofit organizations are experiencing cyber-attacks. Often, charities are soft targets because they have not yet taken steps to protect their data resources and plan for potential breaches. Health and education nonprofit organizations seem to be at particular risk, although charities of any type or size can and do suffer from a cyber-incident. According to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat report for 2014, 60% of all targeted spear-phishing attacks struck small to medium-sized organizations; security incidents in that year particularly affected health-related organizations (37%), educational organizations (10%) and government/public sector organizations (8%). And in a recent nonprofit governance survey, 81% of 470 respondents indicated that cybersecurity is now among the top 10 risks faced by their nonprofit.
A potential cybersecurity incident poses a major reputational and financial peril to charities of all sizes and types. If a cyber-attack occurs, charity leaders need to be prepared to manage the resulting situation quickly and effectively. While technology can help reduce risks posed by cyber-attacks, advance planning to manage cyber problems – before, during and after they happen – can also provide significant assistance. As a good starting point, the National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a Cybersecurity Framework which provides a helpful general roadmap for organizations to consider:
1. Identify cyber risks by assessing risk exposure
2. Protectdata through technology and data governance planning
3. Detect a cybersecurity problem when it happens
4. Respondeffectively to a cybersecurity incident
5. Recoverfrom the impact of a cybersecurity or data impairment event
On a separate note, as part of our Building Trust Video Series we are pleased to provide a video that features Steve Delfin, President and CEO of America’s Charities (a BBB Accredited Charity) which helps organizations generate financial support for its members through public sector and private sector workplace giving programs.
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to https://www.give.org/ask-us-about-a-charity1/ if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO BBB Wise Giving Alliance
(Arlington, VA) BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) is pleased to be an official sponsor of International Charity Fraud Awareness Week which takes place this year from October 18-22. This awareness event represents an international coalition of regulators, law enforcement agencies, charities and nonprofit associations seeking to raise charity fraud awareness. Donors need to be aware of the risks and take steps to keep their donation transactions safe.
Potential Charity Fraud Threats
While the vast majority of charities operate appropriately, there are things donors can do to help avoid potentially questionable solicitations. Keep the following points in mind as you make your giving decisions during the last quarter of the year, the most important time for giving for many charities.
Don’t Click the Link or scan a QR code until you verify the source. Due to the pandemic, more charity fundraising is taking place online than in-person. Links and QR codes that appear in emails and social media that claim to direct you to a charity’s website may connect you to a false page to steal your data. Best to visit the charity’s official website on your own.
Avoid Mistaken Charity Identity. Look at the name carefully as many charity names sound similar. Sometimes it’s because charities are raising money for the same cause, other times it’s because questionable groups are seeking to confuse you.
Watch Out for Excessive Fundraising Pressure. Charities that need your money today, will welcome it tomorrow. Avoid pressure to make an on-the-spot donation decision. This can be a ruse to get you to contribute without checking.
Preventive Measures for Donors
Unfortunately, most donors don’t take the time to check out charities before they give. That one step can help contributors avoid questionable appeals and give with greater confidence. Here are three ways to check a charity before you contribute.
Visit the Charity’s Website. (a) See if the charity’s website provides easy access to the type of information you would find in an annual report: a statement about their mission, a summary of program accomplishments, a board roster, and a financial summary. (b) Also, look for a copy or a link to the group’s latest financial report with the IRS: the Form 990. (c) Check out the charity website’s privacy policy. As called for in BBB Charity Standard 18, charity websites should have a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on its website that covers notice, access, choice and security. For additional implementation explanations, see the BBB Charity Standards. (d) If you decide to contribute, consider doing it online through the charity’s own website, to put your donation to work more quickly.
Verify Government Registration. About 40 of the 50 states in the U.S. require charities to register with the attorney general’s office or secretary of state. You can verify an organization’s charitable tax exempt status at this IRS link. In Canada, check with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Check for BBB Charity Accreditation. Visit charity reports on Give.org to verify if the organization meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity.) There is no charge to charities for accreditation.
How to Report Charity Fraud
Everyone is susceptible to fraud and cybercrime, if you believe you have been the victim of a fraudulent charity solicitation, there are several things you can do to help yourself and others.
Keep track of the facts. Take down the exact name of the charity and the circumstances of the appeal whether it took place online or over the phone.
Contact the attorney general’s office in your state (in Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency) if you want to alert a law enforcement agency about the problem. For allegations of charity fraud, you can also inform the Federal Trade Commission. These agencies use such reports to help identify and investigate questionable efforts.
Consider posting to BBB Scam Tracker (bbb.org/scamtracker) to help warn others by reporting what you know.
ABOUT BBB WISE GIVING ALLIANCE: BBB Wise Giving Alliance (BBB’s Give.org) is a standards-based charity evaluator that seeks to verify the trustworthiness of nationally soliciting charities by completing rigorous evaluations based on 20 holistic standards that address charity governance, results reporting, finances, fundraising, appeal accuracy and other issues. National charity reports are produced by BBB’s Give.org and local charity reports are produced by local Better Business Bureaus – all reports are available at Give.org.
ABOUT BBB: For more than 100 years, the Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands, and charities they can trust. In 2020, people turned to BBB more than 220 million times for BBB Business Profiles on 6.2 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at BBB.org. The International Association of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
MEDIA CONTACTS: For more information, journalists should contact Bennett Weiner at bweiner@give.org
Of the charities that provide requested information, the majority (73%) are able to meet all 20 BBB Charity Standards. It also appears, however, that many charities have more work to do to satisfy the expectations of donors. For all charities that did not meet one or more standards, BBB WGA has found that the most frequent issues are as follows:
Annual Reports (Standard 16)
Donors should be able to receive, in a single document, certain basic facts about the charity. Such a report does not have to be a fancy, expensive publication – it can be a simple word-processed document or a page on the charity’s website. It just has to describe what the charity does in clear, layman’s terms, which is why we consider it such a valuable tool – it’s a simple way to get a very good idea of the charity’s work. We believe the contributing public deserves this type of understandable and accessible transparency.
Board Policy on Results Reporting (Standard 6)
This standard calls for a board policy for periodic self-assessment of the charity’s progress toward addressing its mission. We believe it is essential that organizations regularly make time to assess their past performance and define their future goals and actions. The charity should have a board-approved policy that commits to evaluating (at least every 2 years) the success and impact of its program(s) in fulfilling the charity’s mission.
Effectiveness/ Results Report (Standard 7)
This standard seeks to ensure the charity’s governing body has received and reviewed a written report on its effectiveness assessment (in other words, how well it is addressing its mission.) This assessment is not to be confused with the charity’s annual report described in Standard 16 above. If a charity does not already have such an assessment and seeks guidance, it can use the common reporting framework developed by Charting Impact, a joint project of BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Independent Sector and Candid/GuideStar. These are five specific and substantive questions that, when completed and shared with the board, fulfills this standard.
Board Meetings (Standard 3)
Standard 3 calls for charity governing boards to meet no less than three times per year with a majority in attendance on average at those meetings. Engagement of decision-makers in charity activity is essential to ensure that an organization is on the right path. Of the three meeting minimum, one of these meetings can be by phone as long as official minutes are taken. In addition, this standard accepts video conferencing as an “in-person” meeting of the board as long as everyone can see each other. This standard has consistently been in the top noncompliance findings long before the pandemic. Thanks to Zoom and other video conferencing, so far, we have seen no significant increase in the percentage of charities found not to meet this standard.
Donor Privacy (Standard 18)
This standard calls for charities to address donor privacy concerns by offering donors who receive written appeals the opportunity to inform the charity they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization. This is usually found in appeals on the donor reply form as a check box. Also, charity websites should include a privacy policy that addresses four specified elements (1) what information is being collected about me and how will it be used, (2) can I see this information and request corrections? (3) how do I inform the charity I do not want this information shared outside the organization? (4) what security measures are in place to protect this data? The most frequent reason a charity does not meet this standard is because the website’s privacy policy is either absent or does not include one or more of these elements
To learn more about the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability and how they are applied, visit this page.
Video of the Week
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video interview featuring Saleem Zaru, Executive Director, United Palestinian Appeal (a BBB Accredited Charity) that works to assist impoverished Palestinians through its four program areas: community and economic development, education, health and wellness, and outreach. The organization states that it launches its own programs and builds long-term relationships with partners in Palestinian territories, the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan, and the world at large.
Heart of Giving Podcast
In this week’s Heart of Giving Podcast, our guest Cindy Lott, an Associate Professor of Professional Practice and Academic Director, Nonprofit Management, at Columbia University, discusses the growing need and importance of educating the future leaders in the non-profit sector and the options available to make sure that our sector is in capable hands to face future challenges.
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
The Center for Disease Control in the United States estimates that each year there are 255,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women and 2,300 in men. Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October to help bring attention to the symptoms, screening, treatment and research to help cure this devastating illness. This heightened attention also inspires many to donate to charities addressing breast cancer issues.
Numerous Charities Address This Cause. With over 1,000 U.S. charitable organizations that include the words “breast cancer” as part of their name, make sure the charity you are considering is the one you have in mind. Review the appeal and website of the organization carefully to gain a better understanding of what they do. Are they engaged in medical research, treatment assistance and/or prevention education? While some donors only consider donating to charities that request our support, be aware there are many other potential choices.
Appeals by Celebrities. Sometimes famous celebrities help bring attention to specific breast cancer organizations. While well-known personalities can reach and teach us about the importance of this issue, it is still up to donors to ensure that their contributions will be used wisely. While the generous time celebrities provide helps demonstrate their good intent, it is the charity itself that needs to gain your trust.
Pink Ribbons. While the pink ribbon is the symbol for breast cancer awareness, its appearance on a product does not necessarily mean that buying it will help a charity, unless it specifies that is the case. So, look at the label carefully. Certain stylized versions of the pink ribbon are trademarked by specific breast cancer charities, but a generic pink ribbon image does not guarantee that you are helping the cause through the purchase.
Cause Marketing Promotions. To meet BBB Charity Standard 19, promotions that claim a purchase will help a charity should include a specific disclosure that identifies the actual or anticipated amount of the purchase that will benefit the charity. For example, 5 cents for every can of soup up to $100,000. If applicable the disclosure should also indicate the duration of the campaign and any maximum or guaranteed minimum donation amount. A complete disclosure might say, “8 cents for every sweater sold in the month of October will help XYZ Breast Cancer Charity up to a maximum of $25,000.” Watch out for vague language that state “a portion of proceeds” will help breast cancer charities.
BBB Wise Giving Alliance encourages donors to support these groups but also remember to visit Give.org to verify if they meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.
Video of the Week
As part of our Building Trust Video Series, we are pleased to provide a video featuring Mabel Valdivia, Executive Director of Fonkoze USA, a BBB Accredited Charity that provides funds for microfinance loans to its partners in Haiti. The majority of loan recipients are women who use the funds to start or expand a small business that enables them to earn an income and feed their families.
Heart of Giving Podcast
In this week’s Heart of Giving Podcast, we learn about “Impact Investing” from Tracy Palandjian, the CEO and Co-Founder of Social Finance, a national impact finance and advisory nonprofit that builds innovative partnerships and investments to measurably improve lives.
Recent Reports
We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:
Finally, remember to let us know by going to www.give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.
H. Art Taylor, President & CEO
BBB Wise Giving Alliance
From remote learning to financial aid, education has been top of mind for many in the philanthropic space. How can higher learning be a force for innovative good without contributing to growing inequity in the United States and beyond? Formerly President of Franklin & Marshall College and Senior Vice President of Strategic Development at Georgetown University, Dan Porterfield spent decades connecting education and social justice. Now President and CEO of the Aspen Institute, he oversees programs that promote job development, educational reform, and partnerships between businesses, government agencies, and schools. Heart of Giving’s two-part interview tracks three significant aspects of his varied and impactful career, as well as the enduring optimism that has defined it.
Making Meaningful Tradeoffs: Recalling his own journey from a working-class childhood in Baltimore to a Rhodes Scholarship, Porterfield appreciates how education can empower individuals and families from underserved communities. As an academic administrator, he prioritized talent strategies that allocated funds to financial aid, drawing low-income students to prestigious institutions. But in an era of COVID and tight budgets, assisting the disadvantaged can pose a conundrum for the educational sector and its stakeholders. Should they restructure debt, promote enrollment, or perhaps adjust their spending models?
Rethinking College and University Ratings: Because of benchmarks that promote high tuition and the SAT test (itself a marker of student inequality), Porterfield remains skeptical of popular college and university rankings. Their rigid criteria can perpetuate a deeply conservative mindset among administrators, especially since spending changes can lower a school’s rating and reputational cachet. Are there new ways to incentivize innovation in educational institutions?
Creating Dialogue: In a time of deep racial and political divides, starting new conversations has never seemed more crucial—or more challenging. The Aspen Institute sponsors initiatives that promote effective civic participation. The Citizenship and American Identity Program encourages discussions about a shared sense of national values through public engagement. Similarly, the Better Arguments Project helps communities to have productive debates that incorporate and respect multiple points of view. Their efforts bring together government, education, and nonprofit sectors to build bridges in a compelling way. How can other organizations respond to this polarized turning point in American history?
To learn more about education and political collaboration, listen to the two-part interview with Dan Porterfield on the Heart of Giving Podcast here and here.
